Bad Times after Good Move

So I finally Moved house and for a couple of days it was all going well; Well as good as it could go surrounded by boxes and having to do a lots of unpacking..

My removal men from Crutch Brothers were brilliant and if you live in the South East (Kentish) area of the UK I would definitely recommend them.

so after a weekend where I moved and  I attended a 80 party

which necessitated Avocado on toast the next day to get rid of my Hangover.

All finally seemed to be going okay then....

my poor mum ended up in a bad way and needed to go into Hospital, won't go into too much detail but she was very,very sick but thanks to the amazing fantastic work of the NHS. I honestly can't praise them enough they do such great work for not the most stunning of pays.

Everyone we dealt with were so helpful and kind, I can gladly report she is all fixed up now and is finally back at home recovering well.

Although all this trauma means that's there has been next to no cooking going on in the Dyslexic cooking house-hold let alone un-boxing of our stuff.

It was back and forth to the hospital and then a take away's or toast before flomping into bed.

Although I did manage, when mum was out of the woods and back on a normal ward a morning of shopping to buy some bits for the house and I got this fab new pan from Ikea.

Yay no more scalding water burning my hands when I putting on Pasta or Potatoes.

also this was picked up for the little man

and to be fair considering he moved house and had mum on the edge with all the stuff going on with his Nana he been such a good boy and has actually really brighten up the dark days.


But as it coming up to a bank holiday weekend (4 Day weekend yay) I think I have a bit of a relax with a nice cold drink.

I will also get into my new kitchen and do some cooking as normally on Easter my mum does a big family dinner but this year she will be resting (Definitely pop by with chocolate and hugs) I think I do some fun foodie for just the Hubby, son and I.

You never know if the sun is shining might be able to even get out cooking in our new garden (Although considering this is the UK and a bank holiday the forecast will probably be rain, rain with extra rain for good measure.)

Moving madness and vegetable

So we moving tomorrow, arrrghhh!! Okay I am calm.

So haven't been doing much cooking - anything I can throw in the oven between packing boxes has been the order of the day. 

The only thing I really did was try to make some vegetables fun as I am, in vain, still trying to diet.

So I took a potato, a sweet potato , carrots and swede.

Chopped the up and cooked them for about 20/25 minutes till they were really soft.

Then I pureed them all together.

Took a pre-spray oil baking tray (with baking parchment) and scoped out balls of the vegetable mix.

Put them in the oven for 15 minutes. 

I then took them out and added a small sprinkling of low fat cheese and put them back in for another 10 minutes.

What you end up with is some lovely veggie cheesy yumminess.

Which are tasty and healthy at the same time and I think make veggie a bit more interesting.

Although now thinking about it you could add the cheese into the middle of the veg balls so when you cut in you got melty cheese. Hmmm interesting think I might need to do that next time.

Winner, winner Sunday Dinner

Sorry bit late in posting but in the final stages of moving so try (and failing) to get the final bits done before we have to actually move.

But to cheer myself up we too a trip to the Disney Store my little chap got an Olaf  who join us for Lunch and I got this amazingly gorgeous cute little Tsum Tsum Jabba the Hut.. 

I also added to my happy by getting this uber sparkly office shoes  They have sandals too so I think I might be force to shop again to add to my sparkly collection. lol

We went out for an Amazing Sunday dinner  at the North Pole Pub  I've reviewed that pub before when we went in the summer but I haven't been for the Sunday Dinner yet so this was a treat.

Now being from the UK it's a good bet that I love a sunday dinner.  It's like a ritual well it was every Sunday when I was growing up. No so much now as it's a lot of work so unless my Mother offers to do it (and to be fair hers are much better than mine) I only do it on rare occasion. Also as they are super yummy but lots of calories.

Now the one at the North Pole is a Carvery so you can pick your own meats and veg I went for beef and turkey, with roast potateos, cabbage, cauliflower cheese (love it) carrots, parsnip, stuffing and a yorkshire pudding topped up with gravy. It was A-Maz-ing delicous and you can tell it was all freshly cooked. it was only £10 so a bargin for all that you got. have to say definitely try this place if you are looking for a good Sunday lunch.

They do a kids plate too save process just a smaller plate but as you can choose he had the beef and I filled it up with all the little ones favourite veg and he enjoyed it just as much as the rest of us. We sent back all the plates empty :) 

For dessert (so yes the diet is going well), they do have an fantastic dessert menu with loads of classic puddings, I had bread and butter pudding with custard.. I did share it with my little pudding pop so felt less guilty about getting it. 

I do like a classic English dessert but this had a twist and came with chocolate chips (traditional raisins) which I though was really neat idea and will definitely be pinching it when I make this in the future.

The hubby had the apple pie and ice cream.

That was great too, the only down side and this is totally just my weirdness but in winter I want hot desserts so the fact he had it with Ice cream put me off a bit. If it was custard or just warm on its own it would have been perfect (Okay I know that crazy but hey it's my blog and I can be crazy if I want too).

Oh and on the bar they had this lovely working mini carousel 

In was so detailed and really beautiful although I did worry about it being on the bar as I don't think delicate ornaments and alcohol mix lol :) 

So all in all a great lunch a great venue and a group of very full people :P

What with everything going on very little cooking took place this week. The only thing I did manage to cook up was a yummy vegetable risotto topped off with salmon (see pervious post for the recipe).

Hopefully this will go some way to compensate for the not so healthy but super yummy Sunday Lunch 

Well ta-tar for now and hopefully next week if things have calmed down, I highly doubt they would have I'll have a yummy recipe for you all :) 

Make room for Instagram Mushrooms

Starting with a  big thing I finally told my work about my Dyslexia and Dyspraxia it only took me 9 years - but I feel such a relief its done.

Well if I'm going to write a blog and put myself out there I should be my whole self in everything I do and I am through hiding who I fully am. I am Dyslexic and Dyspraxic and yes that does make me have a little quirks but hey I am really starting to love be slightly quirky.

I think that really having my little boy I want to be the best person I can be so I going to be the best version of me warts and all - so there world,  here I am :) 

I've also join the wonderful world of Instagram you can find me @dyslexiccooking that's my Twitter handle too so come follow me, actually that would be nice as current count is 9 followers.

I do like Instagram as it lots of pic and not many words it is the perfect forum for Dyslexics, but I will still be writing my blog this is just another social media outlet I am using.

As for cooking week I made a lovely mushroom dish it more like a starter (appetizer) really. It was born out of I had a load of mushroom I needed to use so I decided to bake them. I loaded up a baking tray.

They looked a bit sad on the tray so I wanted to jazz them up a bit. So I added peri peri seasoning (I had some left over from the Peri Peri Pork) some chilli flakes and a vegetable oxo cubes. I put it in a hot oven for 20 mins.

What I got was a love spicy blackened snack. Which I have decided will make a fab buffet snack at a party and as it just baked mushroom with no added oil or anything they are very healthy and of course yum city.  

So apart from finding my new favorite party snacks the other stuff that been happening with me is at work we got sent a anamatronic cat. They are supposed to be companion for old people, but they are super creepy like something out of a horror house. Think it might do more harm that good for the old people.

Also had some lunch at my mums and she was so nice and made me a low fat ploughmans to fit in with my diet. Okay wasn't has fun as a proper one but was a nice lunch.

Oh and I got a new phone case of course it's a Disney case, I just love the quote an have been staring at it in boring meetings... Ah Disney Dreaming again okay when am I not lol.

Last thing before I sign off I have been going to Itsu actually think I am becoming slightly obsessed.

I do love sushi, okay hands down best Sushi is at the California Grill in Disney well I think the view make the food taste better. But as it not quite convenient for my lunch hour lol.. 

But Itsu is very very very good and a lot nearer lol and I can just get California rolls which is great for lunch. Something nice fresh and tasty for a quick lunch at work that perks me up for the rest of the day.

The Peri peri pork problems and Suspended Cocktails

So I decided to make the Slimming World Peri Peri Pork recipe.

so I tootled off to my local supermarket to get the ingredients and I'm not sure what locust got there before me but there was hardly anything on the shelves.

So instead of Pork I got Turkey and i picked up some winter veg and they were out of Onions, Nightmare

So my list of ingredients was:

Peri Peri seasoning

Chilli Flakes

Passata 500g

Chopped tomatoes 500g

Veg 

Turkey 

So I cooked of the turkey

and placed it in a big dish along with the veg. 

in another bowl I mixed the chopped tomatoes with the Passata adding in some Peri Peri season and Chili flakes (This part is up to you to make it as spice as you want so for me extra spicy lol). 

I also added a Veg Oxo (stock) Cube and 50 ml of boiling water.

Although I need to learn not to cook and look for a Holiday at the same time as the results can be a bit messy. 

I threw the tomato mix over the turkey and the veg and through in a 200 degree oven for 35 minutes.

Pulling it out all bubbly and hot.

I tried to be healthy and team it with Veg.

It was okay, but not amazing. The vegetables weren't as soft as they could have been. So it tasted a lot better the next day when I microwaved it for left overs lunch.

But not to be dissuaded as it was such a simple recipe with, I think, a lot of potential, I made it again.

This time I got pork  yay, I got Onion and I swapped the Vegetables for Sweet Potato and Courgettes (Zucchini).

OMG what a difference this was; now turn from Hmmm to Marvelous, I really liked it and as it was slimming world low in fat but honestly high in flavour. It's only really the prep as I par boiled the potatoes but it is one of those recipes where you can throw it all in and then stick it in the over. Quick, easy, tasty, Job Done lol.

Also in my travel over the past week visited a wonderful Cocktail bar, I only managed to go for one as we were heading on to another event.

But I went to the The Artesian Bar  located in the Langham Hotel in London.

My Cocktail was called Suspended in Time - Star of Bombay, Lime, Niaouli, Yarrow, Palmarosa

This wonderful cocktail came in a mesh bag which you can suspend over the table while wearing this fetching ring. So drink with a bit of Bling truly Amazing. 

It was more of a spectacle rather than drink in a bar, although a bit pricey definitely worth a visit. I for one will be saving up my pennies to give it another go and try some more of their works of art, sorry I mean cocktails lol...

No Wine (Wait, What!!) Risotto

Two posts in the same week I am spoiling you lol.

Also this is a cooking post yay - give the public what they want, even if they don't know they want it :)

So back from the Yummy Scrumminess of Scotland and with having all the fun and the drinks, it's back to the diet (Boo) but I get to try out new things so (Yay).

So I decided to make Risotto, I adore Risotto and I have a lovely summer recipe (which I will do this summer as I can take shots in my new Garden whoop whoop) of a Lemon Chicken and Spring Onion Risotto that I do  make with wine.

But as it winter and not the nicest weather here in Kent I wanted to stick with a more winter theme and because I was dieting I omitted the wine. 

So I decided to make Mushroom and Leek Risotto.

Actually a really easy recipe taking about 15-20 minutes but for the whole time you need to be on it.

For the ingredients I used, Risotto Rice, Stock Cubes , Mushroom (chopped), Quark and a bag of sliced leeks (Yes I know that make me super lazy) 

So for this recipe you need a bit of stock - I used three cubes in 1/2 Litre nearly a pint of water. 

So as usual I used spray oil and emptied about 200g of Risotto Rice in to the pan gave it a bit of a stir for 1 -2 minutes. This is when I would normally add a glass of wine and cook it down - 

Instead I just added the stock, bit by bit.

When it was around half way through the stock and about 5- 6 minutes into cooking time along with the stock I added in the chopped up mushrooms - I cooked the leeks separately in another pan as I like my leeks nice an tender. 

I cooked this for about another 10 minutes before adding the leeks, really easy but you have to keep stirring which is normally fine, but as any parent out there know that getting a toddler to behave for a few minutes is an achievement but 15 straight minutes without need to help them with something is hard. So memo to me next time making this either the other half needs to be about or he's in bed as I only managed to just save it from all sticking to the bottom of the pan doh. 

After I added the leeks I stirred in a spoonful of the quark to give it a slightly creamy texture then serve. 

Quick easy and yummy. I had so much that the next day I even managed to use the left over.

I roasted some skin free chicken breast which I added some chili and roasted tomatoes along with it. So still really healthy but another added twist to it. 

On both accounts a very filling tasty meal which is great when you're dieting as there is nothing worse than being hungry after dinner as I find for me that is optimum snacking time.

Although saying that I have now become obsessed with Muller light yogurts, I never had these two flavors before but they are supper yummy.

I even mixed in Raspberry with the Vanilla Chocolate Sprinkle one for a between meal pick me up. .

And my other favorite of their's the Banana and Custard, I had with Blueberries as a quick breakfast treat at work.

Bonny, Bonny Scotland

Great timing as this is going up on Burns night, Haggis for everyone :) 

But last week I was up in Scotland for my  father in law's (FIL) 60th birthday.

Had my first flight with the little one alone. British Airways were so helpful and lovely (Big Thanks to all the Staff you were brilliant) but I still need a drink after the whole ordeal lol..

We managed to surprise him, might not be the best thing to do, jumping out on a man just about to turn 60, don't worry he got a bit of a jump but he was okay.

As they had traveled back all the way from Malaysia and still on Malaysian time the first day was a bit quiet.

The second day we made up for it and I made Margaritas - 2 parts tequila to 1 part Cointreau and 1 part lime juice. Mix in a shaker full of ice and serve in a salted rimmed glass. 

Yes I know these a Champagne glasses but it's all we had and needs must.

They where so tasty, albeit a bit strong, they went down very well with the Mother in Law (MIL) - even though we were starting the celebration for the FIL birthday due to him still being Jet lagged he was asleep and missed out on the Margarita fun lol

On the third day we  it was officially FIL 60th birthday 

We had a yummy breakfast along with Bucks Fizz (Mimosas) and Cake the cake was in the shape of a Jammy Dodger on of the FIL favorite biscuits.

He got lots of lovely cards and presents we bought him a fit bit, which will help to burn off the cake calories lol.

It started to snow, proper snow not like the rubbish we get down south,  so we got the little one out to experience it. 

And obvs I had to go out and have some fun in it too. I know I'm a fully grown woman but don't care, I love snow and turn into a 5 year old whenever I get to experience it.  :)

I enjoyed it much more than the little one I think he preferred looking, he's more of a sun bunny which bodes well if we trying to plan a trip to Disney World as I doubt they ever get snow there.

We spent most of the day relaxing as the FIL wanted to watch the Cricket which England won. Yay go team..

Early evening we went o a lovely restaurant "The Boathouse" which is in the grounds of my favourite hotel Cameron House (it was the venue for our Wedding Reception) so hold a special place in my heart.

It was very snowy still so I had to modifiy my foot wear for going out, don't worry I took high heels in my bag as even though the Wellies were handy they didn't really go with my dress lol. 

Stared off the dinner with a lovely Wine a Da Luca Pinot. It was super yummy, dry and crisp just the way I like my wines. 

The food was equally exquisite as the wine.

My Hubby ordered steak and it came with Jenga chips - very fun and they were nice and Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, as I insisted on trying one (For research purposes only of course).

The FIL ordered the Duck, he said it was nice but I think I would have liked mine a bit pinker.

My Hubby Steak was cooked to perfection too.

I had an utterly amazing Crab and Avocado pizza, stoned baked in a proper pizza oven. You could tell it was freshly made and the crab was so nice. I would say it a must if you visit this restaurant.

As it was a celebration we finished off the meal with a Moet - well a bit of Fizz is always needed when marking a big milestone.

Honestly I can say enough nice things about this place, it also right on the loch, to dark to take any good pics but it is an amazing location for a bit of amazing food. 

The next day it was still really snowy, but we found an ingenious way of getting the little one around the town. 

As we couldn't stay out in the cold for too long we took a visit to the Loch Lomond Shores Sea life center.

I think I made a new friend.

And I definitely found Nemo and all his buddies. 

We even on the break got to spend some time in the loch in the little town of Luss.

Which is a chocolate box picture of a town, but I would avoid the cats.

Another must when visiting that part of the world also very special as we got married in Luss Church - ah memories.

The MIL offered to baby sit so we got to have a night out. We went to the Great Scotts Bar in Cameron House, a very comfortable lounge bar with a very nice Scottish Theme, full of muted tartans and squashy wing back chairs and sofas. 

They also carried the same wine list as the Boat House so I got some more of that delicious Sicilian Da luca Pinot. Will have to see if I can get that in the Supermarket.


So on the last day we just milled about,  although I did find King Kong at Loch Lomond Shores Jenners enjoying a fun day out.

Oh and I found this fab farm shop - Auchentullich Farm Shop - yeah I have no idea how you pronounce it either lol :) 

I picked up some very spice but if you like that thought of thing, flavourful, Silver and Green Piri Piri Stuffed Olives

Which went fab with this fresh wholemeal bread food heaven.

So all in all a very fun and full week.

The only other Major highlight is I was name 10 in Foodblogs.co.uk  10 Food Blogs Taking 2016 by Storm.

Can't thank them enough, and is making me so excited for what I am going to do this year.

Honestly I really appreciate it, being dyslexic and dyspraxic it is very very scary writing stuff and exposing your quirks for people to see and for someone to write something so lovely and get what I'm trying to do means so much.

I do hope to take 2016 completely by storm not only in my blog but everything I do, so guys watch this space.

And I would also like to hear from some of you so please post a comment even if its just to say hi.